Cheney Coming To Mich. For Gerald Ford Celebration

GRAND RAPIDS (WWJ/AP) – Former Vice President Dick Cheney will be in Grand Rapids next month as part of a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Gerald Ford.

A tribute dinner is set for May 6 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a feature exhibition at the Ford Presidential Museum is to be held May 7.

The dinner will include a panel discussion about Ford’s legacy featuring Cheney, Ford speechwriter Ben Stein, Ford’s son Steven, and Bob Schieffer, a CBS White House correspondent during Ford’s presidency.

In a statement, Cheney, who was Ford’s chief of staff, said he’s “honored to pay tribute to the country’s most humble leader.”

He calls Ford “a man of great character who led our country through its roughest days.”

Ford was born July 14, 1913.

The events are part of an ongoing commemoration of Ford’s 100th birthday, which would be July 14. Madeleine Albright and Barbara Bush and Laura Bush are among the dignitaries who already have visited Grand Rapids for Ford centennial events this year.

Events will take place throughout the year and be announced periodically.